The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 260

wiped out; a cle_an t~blet ma:ks the returned prodigal's position, 4. The purification must be coextensive with the disease. Leprosy affec_ted the whole man; hence the tips of the ear, the hand, and the foot must be touched with the atoning blood that all parts may be redeemed from cor:uption. All sphe~es of activity must be br~ught under the power of the cross of Chnst. 5. The cleansing becomes a conRecration of the entire man. . The resemblance of !his rite to that enjoined at the setting apart of the priests to their holy office cannot fail to be observed. The leper offered a trespass offering to compensate for breaches of the commandment committed by reason of his absence through sin from the sanctuary, a sin offering because of transgressions inadvertently committed, a burnt offering as an act of individual worship in which there was self- surrender to the Lord, and a meat offering, the natural accompaniment testifying grateful homage. And, besides blood, oil also was sprinkled upon the leper, and poured upon his head, and sprinkled seven times (the covenant number) before the Lord, so that we have here a recognition of the truth that Israel was intended to be a" kingdom of priests." Typical of the sanctification required in the people of God, reaching to every part of their character, until all is brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. "As ye presented your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members servants to righteousness unto sanctifica- tion." 6. The consecrated man is fit for the discharge of ordinary duties and the enjoyment of lawful pleasures. After the sacrifices, the man could once more enter his ter.t and mingle with his family, and pursue his wonted avocation. Jehovah proved himself in these regulations the God of the families of Israel. He protected their relationships and imparted to them his blessing. It is a mistaken idea to place affection for our kindred before love to God. Regard for God is the surest guarantee for the per- formance of human obligations. Well for the land if this were oftener remembered in the establishment of households and in the contracting of domestic ties! CoNCLUSION. Only when "clean" could the leper send for the priest. We go to Jesus Christ with all our guilt; he looks upon us and pronounces us clean, he touches us, and lo I we are healed ; for there is sanatory power in his look and touch. What the Saviour exemplified when on earth, he is constantly effecting now from heaven.-S. R. A. Vere. 1-9.-The cleansing of the leper-ceremonies outside the camp. As leprosy is evidently a remarkable emblem of sin, so must the cleansing of the leper represent the purification of the sinner, and the laws of the cleansing, the provisions of the gospel, The text brings under our notice-- I. THE CONDITIONS BEQUIBED. These were: 1. That the leprosy be healed. (1) Healing and cleansing are distinct things. The priest did not heal. Defore pro- ceeding to cleanse he had to see that the leprosy was healed (ver. 3). Our Lord healed lepers, and then sent them to the priest to be cleansed (see Matt. viii. 2-4; Mark i. 40-44; Luke v. 12-14; xvii. 14). (2) The gospel of this is that repentance is not salvation. The body may be healed, outward reformation mo.y be considerable, while the heart is morally putrescent (see Matt. xxiii. 25-28). The leper, though healed, unless also cleansed, must not enter the holy place or eat of the holy things. A genuine change of heart will manifest itself in a pure life. When these exist together, fellow- ship with God is established. 2. That the priest certify the fact. (1) "He shall be brought unto the priest,'' viz. for this purpose. He is brought by his friends, or they apprise the priest of his condition. Those are the true friends of sinners who bring them to Jesus in person or in prayer. (2) "The priest shall go forth out of the camp." This did Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost. The Pharisees found fault with him for mingling with" publicans and sinners" when he acte,-1 as the priest among the lepers. (3) 'l'he repentance that satisfies Jesus is geOUJne (see Luke xviii. 10-1.4). And this he certifies in his offices of cleansing. II. TuE OFFERING MADE. 1. The sacrifice. (1) This consisted of two birds. We say " this" in the singular, for the bird must be together viewed as one sacrifice. Unitedly they were intended to prefigttre the one true Sacrifice for sins. (2) The birds w~re" alive," to represent him that" nath life in himself." (3) They were" clean." They might be sparrows or quails-any v,ild birds of the clean kinds. Cleanness was requisite to foresbad?w One whose birth and lifo were spotlessly pure. 2. Its treatment. (1) One bird wae killed over running or II living" water, which was tbe emblem of the living, CH, XIV. 1-32.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 228